Chess

How to Play Chess

Chess is a game for all, and simpler than you may think. You can learn the chess rules here!

Select to play as either the black or white chess pieces from the chess setup — white always moves first. The first move is performed by the Pawn or the Knight. Knights are the only pieces allowed to jump over others in the whole chess set and do so by moving out two squares and across one on the chess board. In chess, the pawn is free to move forward two squares on the opening move, however, it can only progress one square forward at a time after that. Also, it can only attack in a forward, diagonal direction.

After this opening to the chess game, the objective is to get the rest of your chess pieces out to attack the opponent's King, while simultaneously protecting your own. The other pieces are free to move across the chess set in the following ways: Bishops can move in any diagonal direction in an unlimited number of available chess board spaces. Rooks can do the same, but in any non-diagonal direction on the chess board. In chess, Queens (your most valuable piece in chess) can move in any direction in an unlimited number of available spaces. Kings can move in any direction, however, only one square at a time on the chess board.

In chess, once the King is threatened, it is placed in "check." The player with the King in danger must use the next move to either move it on the chess board, attack the threatening chess pieces, or block it to get out of "check." Failure to do so could signal the end of the chess game with the King being placed in "checkmate," meaning that it is impossible to avoid an attack on the King and the player who places the King in this position wins the game of chess online.

Fun Facts about Chess

- The longest a chess game could possibly be is 5,949 moves.

- The first chess board setup with light and dark alternating squares was used in Europe in 1090.

- In Chess, the term "Checkmate" derives from the Persian phrase "Shah Mat", meaning "the King is dead".

- It is estimated that over 600 million people play chess online and around the world.

- Magnus Carlsen of Norway is the current world chess champion.

Try chess online for free today and begin your journey to the World Chess Championship!